Music note pitch teaching device



April 27, 1965 K. B. Low, JR., ETAL MUSIC NOTE PITCH TEACHING DEVICEFiled NOV. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G. a W%HM ATTORNEYS April 27,1965 K. B. Low, JR., ETAI..

MUSIC NOTE FITCH TEACHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 Rmw MJ@ E m N WZ R man o v/.o .n ma@ A f L KC V.. B

United States Patent 3,18%,2ul MUSE@ NOTE FETCH TEACHENG DEVECE KennethB. Low, Jr., 4230 Regent St., Philadelphia, Pa., and CharlesGoetz-Gabor, 461 S. Narheth Ave., Narheth, Pa.

Filed Nov. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 324,350 S Claims. (Cl. tht-477) Thisinvention relates to a music note pitch teaching device, and moreparticularly relates to an apparatus into which a pupil sings a note ofthe scale and a visual indication of that tone Will appear on a diatonicstaff in correct K relationship to other notes in that key.

In teaching music,`especially instructional singing, it is difticult forthe untrained pupil t0 read music and make a voice sound of exactly theright pitch corresponding to each of the notes that he reads. As is wellknown, there are fifteen major scales in common use with fifteen tonicsor keynotes, the key signatures for the major scales being C, G, D, A,E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab (harmonic keys) and B, Fil, Cit, Db, Gb, and Cb(enharmonic keys). In effect, there are only twelve possible differentkeys since the enharmonic tones or keys, Cil-Db, Fit-Gb, and B-Cb, whilethey have different letter names, have the same pitch.

In addition, there are the same number of minor scales which have thesame signature as its relative major, but accidentals are added wherevernecessary. The major scale is a succession of eight notes from any noteto its octave, so arranged that a semi-tone or half step appears betweenthe third and fourth degrees, and also between the seventh and eighthdegrees reckoning upward. The minor scale derives its name from the factthat the third is a semi-tone lower than that of the major scale, thusproducing a smaller (or minor) interval between the tonic and themediant.

It is therefore apparent that a student is likely to become confused innot only relating the various scales to one another, but also inrecognizing and distinguishing the pitch of the tone which he issinging.

The ordinary method of blackboard instruction is a laborious and tediousone for both the student and the instructor, and has not provenparticularly ettective inasmuch as the average child is unable to singby sight even after prolonged courses in blackboard materials. Whilecombined visual and audio training aids have been employed in the past,each of the prior art devices have been ineffective and deficient inthat they have depended upon tuned devices, for example, reeds, toproduce the signal, and consequently neglected overtone content, or theyutilized colored lights and dimmed lights to indicate the response toSharps and flats from the fundamentals. Furthermore these priorconstructions were quite sensitive in their reactions to the volume ofthe input sound so as to result in deviations in the output indication.

Accordingly, the general object of the instant invention is to aidin theteaching of music reading and solfeggio.

Another vobject of this invention is to provide a music note teachingdevice which will enable the student to learn ymorey rapidly thepositions on the stati or clef the dif- 3,l.8l),20l Patented Apr. 27,1h65 ICE music note pitch teaching device which will yield an accuratevisual indication of the note being sung.

Another object ot this invention is to provide a music note pitchteaching device which employs a single, continuously-variable light beamwith a hairline indication so as to make it possible to tell exactlywhere the tone being sung is, and whether that tone is a trie too low ortoo high for a particular note on the scale.

Another object of this invention is to provide a music note pitchteaching device which is responsive only to the pitch of the fundamentaltone of the note being sung so as to eliminate color or overtone contentof the particular voice which is singing.

Another object of our invention is to provide a music note pitchteaching device whose response is independent of the volume of the notebeing sung thereby eliminating the confusion resulting from the use ofprior are devices which employed discrete lamps that would becomebrighter or dimmer with variation in volume.

Another object of our invention is to provide a music note pitchteaching device in which the visual indication ci note being sung willbe an accurate representation of the frequency of that note.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a music note pitchteaching device which will eliminate the need for blackboard instructingin sight reading.

ther objects of this invention are to provide an improved device of thecharacter described which is sturdy in construction, economicallyproduced, and highly etlicient and effective in operation.

Withthe above and related objects in view, this invention consists ofthe details of construction and combination of parts as will be morefully understood from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FEGURE 1 is a perspective view, and partly broken away, of a music notepitch teaching device comprising this invention. Y

FlGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2 2 of FlG. l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along lines --S of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FiG. 3.

FGURE 5 is a front elevational View of the music note pitch teachingdevice showing a musical staff panel in the key of B-at mounted thereon.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational View of the music note pitch teachingdevice with an A-major key signature panel mounted thereon.

FGURE 7 is a schematic diagram an example of the general type ofelectrical circuit embodied in this invention.

FGURE 8 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similarreference characters refer to similar parts, there is illustrated amusic note pitch teaching device comprising a housing, generallydesignated as A, a plurality of apertured musical staff panels B in thevarious key signatures, an optical system C for directing a beam oflight on the desired note aperture, andan electrical circuit D fortranslating the pitch of a note being sounded into an electrical signalwhich will cause the beam of light Y to be deflected and illuminate theparticular note aperture to be used with any particular diatonic scalesimply by placing' a scale board in front of a visually indicatingpanel.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a corresponding tothe note being sounded.

The housing A is a substantially rectangular box, preferably of wood,although sheet metal or even paperboard may prove satisfactory. The boxor frame A includes a base l12, a front panel 14, side walls 16 and 18,a back wall Ztl, and a cover 22. The front panel 14 has a plurality ofcircular apertures 26 to 50 inclusive therein .which arediagonally-arranged in adjacently spaced dis- .alacant position. SeeFIGURE 3. Each of the apertures 26 to '50 is covered by a translucentscreen, and a strip 24 of ground glass or translucent plastic has beenfound entirely suitable Vfor this purpose although individualtranslucent disks A(not shown) may be incorporated within the respectiveapertures. A sloping shelf or ramp 52 is diagonally supported in thehousing yA spaced below the apertures 26 to 50 but parallel to the linepassing through their centers. t e

A plurality of reflectors or mirrors 56 to Si) inclusive, correspondingin number to the apertures 26 to Sti, are supported ,on stems S2 onthe-shelf 52 in 'a generally arcuateor semi-circular configuration atthe rearward portion of the housing A. SeeFIGURES 2, 3 and 4. ThestemsrSZmaybe flexibleror soft metal pins which can be twisted abouttheir longitudinal axes to provide for rotatable adjustment of therespective fixed mirror elements` Sto 8f) and canted forward or backwardto permit vertical` alignment of a light beam from the projector C withrespectto the various apertures 26 to 5t?. It is also apparent that auniversal ball-and-socket joint may be substituted for the stemrelements 82, and it is to be understood that other equivalentstructures may be employed instead of theY illustrated embodiment. Thesignificant point of the-adjustment stem construction is to note thatthe various mirror elements must reflect a collimated light beaminitiating at'the source C and impinging upon a rotatable mirror 85(DArsonval Galvanometer) so that the beam will be focpsed upon and llthe translucent screen of the respective apertures 26 to 50.

The optical projector` C is essentially a collimating telescope havinganobjective lens S58 mounted at one end of a barrel 90 and a crosshairor reticle 92 supported at the other'end. YA lamp 94illuminates thereticle or cross hair 92 which is located behind the focal plane of thelens 8S so thatthe total light path between the collimator, therotatable mirror 85, the stationary reflectors 56 to 80, and thescreens. of the-respective apertures 26 to 5@ is the same and the imageof the cross hair will be sharply focused withinptheilluminatedaperture. Thus, with the rotatable DArsonvalmirror S5 turned asindicated in FIG- URE-2, lfor example, they light beamkwill berefiectedfrom Y stationary mirror 60 to illuminate the screen of aperture 30withthe cross hair sharply defined therein as shown lin FIGURE 3.

As has been mentioned previously, the rotatable mirror 85 yisessentially part of a DArsonval Galvanometer system and is mounted uponythe movable coil (not shown) whichis suspended-between the poles of thepermanent magnet thereof. For practical purposes, the galvanometerdefiection lis proportional to the current input therein, and theturning of the coil similarly causes rotation ofthe plane mirror 85 sothat the beam from the collimator C will be deected upon one of theplane stationary mirrors l56 to 80 and accordingly reflected within theappropriate aperture.

The electronic or electrical circuit includes a micro phone 95 which isconnected across the grid of a 12AT7 twin audio amplifier tube, forexample. tors are'mounted. across the plate resistors of the respectivehalves of the twin triode. These last-mentioned capacitors are'highfrequency limitors which partially lter out the overtones in the humanvoice from the fundamental note being sung into the microphone 9S. Theoutput of the audio amplifier and filter is directed into a wave shapingcircuit which includes a 6AU6 tube, for example. The `6AU6 tube ishighly overdriven to cutoff most of the time'of each cycle, and onlyconducts brieliy when the most positive parts of the input signalappearY on the grid. This occurs'at the fundamental tone'frequency,independently of the amount of overtone content. The result is that alseries of pips, corresponding in cycle frequency to thefundamental-tone ofthe note being sung, is imposed upon theY grid of thefirst halfofrthe second twin triode 12AT7. YThe second-twin triode 12AT7is connected as taves in the diatonic scale of the key of F. Theseopen-` Suitable capacillate the normal manner in which notes-aredepicted. addition to being smaller in area tothe apertures 26 to @Y aflip-flop or integrating circuit, and executes one flip-flop for eachinput pip. The` grid of the first half of the second 12AT7 is coupledthrough a'1N34 diode to a voltage divider network which includes a 40Kresistor and a neon bulb 9S. The neon bulb 98 functions as an automaticconstant voltage regulator. A- variable resistor feti in the cathodecircuit of the first half of the cascaded multi-vibrator controls theamplitude of the pipsv which are the D.C. output ofthe secondhalf.Thus',.the second 12AT 7 acts as a frequency meter, since the pulses ofcurrent at the plate of the second half ofthe cascade will producepipsof constant amplitude, but the number of pips will beproportional to thefrequency of the'note being sung into Vthe microphone. Therefore, sincethe number of current pips which are fed into the coil of thegalvanometer affects the mean current ratio, the galvanometer and hencethe mirror deflection will be proportional to the frequency or pitch ofthe note 'being sung. The potentiometer Miti is adjusted, together withthe. zeroposition of the galvanometer, so that the range of `defiectionof the light beam corresponds to the desired range of scale frequenciesto be used.

It is to be observed that each of the apertures 26 to 5t) are correlatedwith the deflection of the. galvanometer mirror so as to representhalf-tone increments-ie. twelve equally tempered intervals per octave.This permits the device to be used in conjunction with any particulardiatonic scale simply by-placing a scale or staff panel B of aparticular key signature in abutment with the front panel 14. lt is alsoto be noted that apertures 26 to 50 are arranged on a diagonal inthepanel 14 so that their respective centers fall on a single line. f

The musicalfstaff'panels B are fifteen in number, Cit and Db, Fil andGb, and B and Cb being constructed respectively so that the sameapertures areused, and indicate the 'positions on the staff for thedifferent solfge tones in each of the keys. For purposes of illustrationerein only the keys of F, Bb and A are embodied, key signature panelsBl., B2; and B3 being shown respectively in FIG. l, 5 and 6, since thesewillA be sufficient to demonstrate the applicability of the instantinvention in teaching how the key signature affects the pitches of thevarious notes on the staff. y Y

The key of F signature panel B1 comprises 'a black paperboard sheet withthe G clef andV attendant staff and leger lines printed thereon inwhite. Aplurality of openings ltll to MS are formed or cut in the panelB1 (fifteen in number) to designate the solfge tones for two full ocingslltll to U5 are smaller than the apertures 26 to Sti in the panel 14 andare approximately tifty'to sixty percent of the area of the latter.While the. openings 101 to are sho-wn in the drawings to be circular in`configuration, they may also be oval to more accurately simu- Sfi, itis to be observed that' the openings 161 to l115 do not fall on an exactdiagonal line. VThe reduction 1n diameter is necessary so that-theopenings ltlll to 115,

which represent thesolfge tones in thefkey of F, will register with theproper apertures in the panel 14, which, A

as has been said before, indicate and represent halfor semi-tones.Accordingly when the staff panels B are mounted in face-to-face abutmentwith the panel 14 by clips 12) secured to the housing A, the solfge toneopenings must overlie the appropriate half-tone aperture.

For example, in the key of F, as .shown-in FIGURE 1,

Y the firstnote F (do) is represented ,by the opening itilV` whichoverlies-a portion of the aperture 26. The second of the yaperture 28,and not aperture .27. This is so because the yinterval between F (do)and G (re) in the major scale is a full tone, and the successiveapertures represent and designate half-tones. The note A is sung mi inthe key of F and is represented by the opening 103 which overlies aportion of aperture 31 since the interval for the third is a full tone.However, Bb (fa) is the fourth note in the lower tetrachord and hencethe note fa is elevated in pitch only a half tone. Accordingly, theopening 104 registers with the aperture 32 (successive semi-tone toaperture 31). The upper tetrachord is similarly disposed.

For purposes of illustration, a chart for the diatonic scales for thesignature panels B1 (key of F), B2 (key of Bb), and B3 (key of A) 4isset forth immediately belovs for illustration, it being understood thatthe same principles would apply to the other key signatures:

register with certain of the apertures' in said housing, means toconvert the sound of a persons voice into a signal corresponding to thepitch of the particular fundamental tone of the audio frequency notebeing sung, and means responsive to the signal directing saidilluminating means upon the translucent screen consonant with theparticular note pitch, whereby a pupil may identify visually theparticular note in the scale he is singing by the illumination of thatnote opening on the scale of the key signature stati which is mounted.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means comprises acollimator which optically projects a light source and a rotatablereliector which causes the Key ofF Key otBb Key ci A No. Sol-fa Inter-Syllaval bles Note Open. Aper. Note Open. Aper. Note Open. Aper.

1 D0 1 F 101 26 Bb 201 3l A 301 30 2 Re 1 G 102 28 C 202 33 B 302 32 3Mi y A 103 30 D 203 35 C# 303 34 4 Fa 12 Bb 104 31 El, 204 se D ani 35 5Sol 1 C 105 33 F 205 38 E 305 37 6 La 1 D 106 35 Gr 206 40 F# 306 39 7Tl 1% E 107 37 .A 207 42 G# 307 4l 8 Do F 108 38 Bb 208 43 A 308 42181,132, and B Aperj indicates the reference characters for theapertures in the panel 14.

"Sol-fa Syllables indicates the solfeggio scale.

NoJ indicates the step in the octave of the diatonic scale.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, after tuning of theelectronic circuit by the potentiometer 100 and the optical deiiectionsbyrmeans of the respective mirrors 55 to S0, the student or pupil needmerely sing the particular solfeggio note into the microphone 95. Thatis, the horizontal and vertical hairlines 92 are adjusted with respectto the apertures `2%6 to 50 so that the horizontal indication of thehorizontal hairline With respect to the center of the openings -in therespective keys will provide an accurate visual representation of thedeviation in the note that is being sung. In this manner, it is possibleto determine exactly Where the pitch of the tone being sung is, andWhether it is too high or too low With respect to the particular notehole on the scale. The electronic circuit and galvanometer movement(mirror drive )k are designed to respond only to the pitch of thefundamental tone of the note being sung. Since the electronic circuit isdesigned to eliminate the eiects of overtone content, the response as avisual indication is not affected by the color. The output of theintegrator circuit produces a constant current amplitude but isfrequency modulated. Therefore, the output of the instant invention doesnot depend upon the volume of the note being sung. Accordingly, thevisual indication is continuous and discrete so as to produce a directtranslation of the frequency input as a quantitative measurement.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather then limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to he determined as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A music note pitch teaching device comprising a housing having aplurality of diagonally-arranged adjacently-spaced circular aperturestherein, a translucent screen over each of the apertures, ya pluralityof musical stati panels each having a series or" openings thereincorresponding to the notes' of the diatonic scale for respective ykeysignatures, illuminating means adapted to direct a beam of light uponone of said translucent screens at a time, means to mount one of saidstai panels at a time upon said housing so that particular openings insaid panel beam of light to impinge upon and be focused on thercspective translucent screens.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means for converting the soundinto a signal comprises a microphone, an ampliiier and lter circuitcoupled with said microphone, and a Wave shaping and integrator circuittranslating the audio signal input from said amplilier and iiltercircuit into a D.C. current which is proportional to the frequency ofthe fundamental tone of the note being sung, and said signal responsivemeans comprises a galvanometer to the coil of which said reflector issecured and is rotatable therewith.

4. A music note pitch teaching device comprising a musical stad panelhaving a series of screened openings therein corresponding to the notesof the diatonic scale for a given key signature, projection means fordirecting a single beam of light upon said panel and spot illuminatingan area thereon approximating the size of the screened openings, meansto sweep the beam of light across the musical stati so that theilluminated spot will sequentially register with one of said openings ata time, and means responsive to an audio frequency signal actuating themeans to sweep and directing the illuminated spot of light from saidprojection means upon the screened opening corresponding to the pitch ofthe note being sung.

5. A music note pitch teaching device comprising a musical staff panelhaving a set of screened openings therein corresponding to the notes ofthe diatonic scale for a given key signature, projection means forfocusing upon said panel an illuminated spot of light having aperipherally defined area approximating the size of the screenedopenings, and sweep means responsive to an audio frequency signaldirecting the illuminated spot upon the screened openings whichcorresponds to the pitch of the note being sung, said projection meansfurther impinging an image of a cross hair centrally focused within theilluminated spot of light whereby the displacement of the projectedimage of said cross hair from a central position Within each of saidscreened openings will visually indicate an increment .of error in truepitch from the note being sung.

6. A music note pitch teaching device comprising a coil, a mirrorrotatable with said coil, a projector directing va beam of `light towardsaid mirror, a plurality of musical staftpanels detachably secured tosaid vertical panel and each having a plurality of openingsrthereincorresponding to the notes of thevdiatonic scale for respec-Y tivekeyfsignatures, a microphone, and an amplier and integratorvcircuitconverting an audio frequency input to ,said microphone Vinto an outputsignal current proportional to the frequency of the fundamental `tonebeing sung into` the microphone and said output signal current passingthrough said galvanometer coil, whereby the ,beamy of light impingingupon salid mirror Will be reflected therefrom upon one of saidrellectors and thereafter redirected and focused upon the correspondingaperture screen so as to illumnatetheopening in-.the keyfsignature panelwhich indicates the `pitch ofthe fundamental tone of the note being`sung. l s

7. Theinventionof claim wherein successive apertures .in the panellindicate 'semi-tone graduations.'

8'. Theinvention of claim7 wherein a cross hair-:image issuperimposedupon the ,focusedrbeamof light so as to indicate deviations rin pitch ofthe note .being sung from vthe note being read.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,867 2/ 37Severy 84-454 2,252,726 8/ 41 Peck. n

2,779,920 1/57 Petroli SLL-4,7() X 2,888,849 6/59 Humphrey et al 811-470X LEO SMIL'OW, Primary Examiner.

1. A MUSIC NOTE PITCH TEACHING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING APLURALITY OF DIAGONALLY-ARRANGED ADJACENTLY-SPACED CIRCULAR APERTURESTHEREIN, A TRANSLUCENT SCREEN OVER EACH OF THE APERTURES, A PLURALITY OFMUSICAL STAFF PANELS EACH HAVING A SERIES OF OPENING THEREINCORRESPONDING TO THE NOTES OF THE DIATONIC SCALE FOR RESPECTIVE KEYSIGNATURES, ILLUMINATING MEANS ADAPTED TO DIRECT A BEAM OF LIGHT UPONONE OF SAID TRANSLUCENT SCREENS AT A TIME, MEANS TO MOUNT ONE OF SAIDSTAFF PANELS AT A TIME UPON SAID HOUSING SO THAT PARTICULAR OPENINGS INSAID PANEL REGISTER WITH CERTAIN OF THE APERTURES IN SAID HOUSING, MEANSTO CONVERT THE SOUND OF A PERSON''S VOICE INTO A SIGNAL CORRESPONDING TOTHE PITCH OF THE PARTICULAR FUNDAMENTAL TONE OF THE AUDIO FREQUENCY NOTEBEING SNUG, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SIGNAL DIRECTING SAIDILLUMINATING MEANS UPON THE TRANSLUCENT SCREEN CONSONANT WITH THEPARTICULAR NOTE PITCH, WHEREBY A PUPIL MAY IDENTIFY VISUALLY THEPARTICULAR NOTE IN THE SCALE HE IS SINGING BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THATNOTE OPENING ON THE SCALE OF THE KEY SIGNATURE STAFF WHICH IS MOUNTED.